Information Pack

#CareinGrief

Background

Many people have experienced and will experience the death of someone they loveduring the COVID-19 pandemic. It may have been a COVID-related death or a deathfrom other causes. People may also be finding a previous bereavement more difficultat this time. While we may be seeing reductions in the number of deaths connected to COVID-19,we know that people’s pain and grief does not diminish as quickly. In the face of such loss and trauma, the Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement SupportLine, in partnership with the HSE, has been launched to provide connection, comfortand support in these exceptional times. COVID-19 restrictions have changed the traditional ways we mark our grief. For themoment, it is not possible to come together like we did traditionally. This means manypeople are facing bereavement in isolation.

What is it?

We aim to provide a confidential space for people to speak about their experienceor to ask questions relating to the death of someone during the COVID-19pandemic or a previous bereavement that is more difficult at this timeWe will listen to what a person says about what has happenedWe will do our best to provide comfort and emotional supportWe will provide any information that might help the caller, including information onpractical supportsWe will provide support for employers or professionals who want to inform the caretheir organisation can offer to bereaved colleagues

it is a National Freephone Service 1800 80 70 77 which is available from 10am to 1pm,Monday to Friday.

Who can call?

May have been recently bereaved, through COVID-19 or a different cause ofdeathMay be concerned about somebody else who has been bereavedMay wish to call because a previous bereavement feels more difficult at this timeMay be a professional who wants to inform the care their organisation can offerto bereaved colleagues

Any adult who has been impacted by bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemiccan call. This includes people who:

Campaign Assets

1. Grief is expressed and felt in different ways. There is no right

or wrong way to grieve

2. How we experience grief and loss depends on a range of

factors

3. There are not five stages of grief, it ebbs and flows

4. There is no time limit to grief, it takes the time it takes

5. Don’t assume people ‘get used’ to loss – grief in old age is still

grief

Key Messages

How Can You Help | Organisations or Group Actions

Support the campaign from 9 June 2020The campaign will include a National and Regional Radio Ad Campaign running fromTuesday 9 June. At the same time, it will be put on the Irish Hospice Foundation and HSEsocial media channels. Share or post it to your page using #CareinGrief and tagging@irishhospice @HSELive Facebookfacebook.com/irishhospicefoundation facebook.com/HSElive Instagram@irishhospicefoundation @irishhealthservice Twitter@irishhospice @HSELive

How can we help you share the message?How can we reach those who are digitally isolated?

Spread the wordBereavement affects us all and we want to provide connection, comfort and supportto those grieving in these exceptional times. After the launch on Tuesday 9 June, we want as many people as possible to knowabout this vital new service.  Can our Campaign Assets and #CareinGrief be incorporated into your currentcommunications including Newsletters, Email Updates, Direct Mail or printedmaterials?

We are more than happy to work in collaboration with you to make sure we reachthose who need support.

How Can You Help | Indiviual Actions

Share on your Social Media accounts using our Campaign Assets and the#CareinGrief and tag @irishhospice and @HSELive if you wishEmail your colleagues/networks with the details and a link towww.hospicefoundation.ieGive someone a call to let them know the service is available or send a text with thenumber and times to callPrint off some of the campaign assets and send them in the post/post through theletterbox of someone you know who needs the comfort and support

Support the campaign from 9 June 2020 Tell people you know; family, friends, colleagues, your community

Sample TweetYou are not alone in grief. The @IrishHospice Bereavement Support Line is a newdedicated National Phone Line, in partnership with @HSELive to support thosegrieving in these exceptional times. Dial freephone 1800 80 70 77. For more info:www.hospicefoundation.ie #CareInGrief

Information & Contacts

The Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Support Line, in conjunction with the HSE, is part of the ongoing response to COVID-19, nationally.   Both Communications Teams are here to help with information on media channels,information resources or digital content. If you have any queries or ideas, please contact:rebecca.kelly@hospicefoundation.ie or partner.pack@hse.ie Visit www.hospicefoundation.ie or hse.ie/communications.

The Irish Hospice Foundation is the national charity dedicated to death, dying andbereavement. For over 30 years, we have been working towards better end-of-life andbereavement care, for all in Ireland. Bereavement affects us all and up to 300,000 Irishpeople can be bereaved each year. In response to COVID-19, we have also set up ourCare & Inform hub which includes a new series of resources on grief and loss to supportthose who are bereaved in these exceptional times. www.hospicefoundation.ie